Mussina threw 7 2-3 sharp innings and produced an RBI single as the New York Yankees once again beat the Mets, 2-1 Saturday.

Mussina struck a blow for AL pitchers with his second-inning hit. He had been 4-for-23 (.174) with four RBIs lifetime.

"I just happened to get my bat on it and hit it in the right place," he said. "Those of us who didn't hit very often, that's all we try to do."

A relatively quiet crowd of 54,195 at Shea Stadium saw the visiting Yankees defeat the Mets for the 10th time in 12 meetings, including last year's World Series.

The last 11 games between the teams have been decided by one or two runs.

"I've noticed in two games that we tend to play exciting games with these guys," Mussina said. "I don't think they could be any tighter."

The Yankees will try for the first Subway Series sweep in five years of interleague play Sunday night.

Unlike in Friday night's opener, all of the Mets were standing on the top step of the dugout from the first pitch. Unfortunately for them, it just provided a better view of Mussina's mastery.

Bernie Williams' homer and Mussina's single in the second accounted for the only runs off Appier (4-6).

"As far as Mike's hitting, I don't know where that came from," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "But he's been telling us that he's done some hitting and has some RBIs. In fact, I think the other pitchers are sick of hearing about it."

Robin Ventura homered in the fourth against Mussina (6-7).

The Mets threatened in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but catcher Jorge Posada made a superb play to grab pinch-hitter Lenny Harris' foul pop.

The Mets also wasted pinch-hitter Darryl Hamilton's leadoff double in the eighth, with reliever Mike Stanton retiring Ventura on a fly ball to end the inning. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

Mussina improved to 3-0 lifetime against the Mets, helping himself with an unlikely hit.

After Williams' leadoff homer, Appier retired the next two batters. But a walk to Scott Brosius and a tough error charged to Gold Glove shortstop Rey Ordonez on Alfonso Soriano's hard grounder brought up Mussina.

Mussina grounded a single up the middle that made it 2-0.

"Appier falls off the mound a little bit," Mussina said. "It happened to go where nobody was standing."

It was Mussina's first hit since an RBI single on July 10, 1999, for Baltimore against Philadelphia.

Appier described the hit as "salt in the wound."

"I don't think you could throw one better than that in terms of placement," he said.

Williams, hitting just .205 last month, raised his average over .300 when he opened the second with a home run. The drive ended Appier's scoreless streak at 16 innings.

Mussina, who had lost three straight starts, gave up six hits. He walked none -- he threw only eight balls in the first four innings -- and struck out three.

Appier gave up five hits and one earned run in seven innings. He had been 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his previous four starts.

Like Mussina, Appier had a chance to deliver at the plate with two outs and a runner on second, but he struck out to end the fifth.

Posada preserved the 2-1 lead in the seventh when he raced back and, with his glove grazing the foul screen, caught Harris' pop. Mussina clenched his fist in appreciation.

"When it went up in the air, I thought it was going out of play," Mussina said.

Hamilton doubled to open the eighth, but Timo Perez popped up trying to sacrifice. After Mussina got Benny Agbayani on a grounder, Stanton retired Ventura.

Notes: The Yankees are 13-7 against the Mets in regular-season play. ... At 38-28, the Yankees moved 10 games over .500 for the first time this year. ... Appier's scoreless streak was the longest by a Mets pitcher this season. ... Tsuyoshi Shinjo tied a career high with three hits for the Mets. ... Posada extended his hitting streak to eight games, matching his career best.